PM deplores attack on Kashmiris in Lucknow

Kanpur, Mar 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday asked state governments to take strict action if there is any attack on Kashmiris, calling those who targeted them recently in Lucknow “crazed people.”
“It is very important to maintain an atmosphere of unity in the country,” Modi told a gathering here.
He said the UP government immediately acted against some “crazed people” who had targeted our “our Kashmiri brothers”.
“I would also like to request other state governments to take strict action, wherever such acts take place,” he said.
The PM was referring to the assault on some Kashmiri vendors in Lucknow, who were attacked by men from a fringe right-wing group on Wednesday, amid the nationwide backlash on Kashmiris following the February 14 attack in Pulwama.
Four of the attackers were arrested on Thursday after videos of the attack were widely shared.
The prime minister was addressing a gathering after flagging off the commercial run on Lucknow Metro’s North-South corridor, through video conferencing from Kanpur.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too requested chief ministers of all the states to protect and love Kashmiri students.
While addressing a rally in Bewar, Rajasthan, Singh said, “I want to convey a message to the entire country, heard of a few incidents against Kashmiri children. Kashmiris are, were and will remain our people. I have requested Chief Ministers of all states that Kashmiri students must be protected and loved.”
He added, “If somebody conspires and troubles our Kashmiri students then it’s the responsibility of BJP workers to stand with the Kashmiri students.”
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also condemned the attack and said that the country needs the people of Jammu and Kashmir with in its fight against “terror”.
“The attack on innocent Kashmiris is condemnable. Our fight is against the separatists and terrorists. We need the people of Jammu and Kashmir with us in the fight against terror,” he tweeted.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi was also among those who condemned the violence against Kashmiris.
Tweeting a video of the Lucknow incident, the Congress chief said: “While I’m disgusted by this video of Kashmiri traders being attacked in UP, I salute the braveheart who challenged the attackers. India belongs to its citizens, from every corner of our nation. I strongly condemn all acts of violence against our Kashmiri brothers and sisters.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)